Says floods, natural calamities among major factors causing poverty
President Dr Arif Alvi on Monday reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to eradicate all forms of poverty, said the country would continue taking the required measures for people’s prosperity and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The president, in his message to the nation on International Day for the Eradication of Poverty annually observed on October 17, said the poverty was in fact the violation of basic human rights.
He said the floods and other natural calamities were among the major factors causing the poverty. Due to the recent floods in Pakistan, there was also a risk of rise in poverty ratio in the country, according to the Presidency. He said Pakistan would continue to abide by the principles of poverty alleviation, and protection of earth and environment. The president said the climate change had aggravated the problems confronting the developing countries like Pakistan.
He said in wake of the floods, the international community should realize its responsibilities. President Alvi said Pakistan had initiated multiple programs for poverty eradication like National Rural Support Program, Benazir Income Support Program, Ehsaas Program and Sehat Card. The country would also continue to take more measures for poverty reduction in future, he added.
He said besides providing food, employment, health, housing and justice, it was also equally essential to ensure people’s inclusion in the politics and their empowerment in order to eradicate poverty. On the other hand President Dr Arif Alvi has called for early finalization of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the United Arab Emirates to enable Pakistan increase its exports.
He was talking to Pakistan’s Ambassador-designate to UAE Faisal Niaz Tirmizi who called on him in Islamabad on Monday. The President underlined the need for exploring new avenues in economic diplomacy and investments with UAE and increase existing bilateral trade volume between the two countries.
He highlighted the huge potential for cooperation in the field of renewable energy, commercial, industrial, infrastructure development and hospitality sectors. Dr Arif Alvi noted that remittances sent by 1.6 million Pakistani diaspora in UAE stood at 5.814 billion dollars in 2021-22 which immensely helped Pakistan overcome its foreign exchange requirements.
